Velva is a city in McHenry County, North Dakota, United States. Part of the Minot Metropolitan Statistical Area, it was founded in 1897 and the population was 1,086 at the 2020 census. Southeast of Minot, Velva is at the southernmost point of the Souris River. Since Velva is about 20 miles away from the nearby city Minot, Velva has had a slight steady increase of population, which makes Velva a nearby bedroom community for Minot. Velva is home to the first invention of Dot's pretzels, also home to a section of Dot's Pretzels Headquarters.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code58790

Area code701

Living in Velva

Housing in Velva

$170K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $170,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Velva

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Velva for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Minot (23%), Bismarck (10%) and Fargo (4%). Half commute less than 27 miles.

Minot

23%

Bismarck

10%

Fargo

Harvey

16%Work in townlive and work in Velva 27 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 414Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Velva →

Health in Velva

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 49% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with North Dakota

8worse than ND

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care all close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.7%More adults with COPDND 5.9% · worse 26.9%More adults who get no exerciseND 21.8% · worse 3.8%More adults who have had a strokeND 3.1% · worse

Care nearby

Trinity HospitalsMinot · 20.3 mi · ER

Minot DentalMinot · 20.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Velva · CMS · HRSAHealth in Velva →

Natural hazards in Velva

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 4% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

15Does Velva flood?paid flood claims since 1979 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Velva

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Velva →

Climate in Velva

Full climate →

Velva has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 1°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

22° / 4°Winter

52° / 29°Spring

80° / 55°Summer

54° / 32°Fall

How much snow does Velva get?About 41 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 22, with the last in spring around May 22.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Velva →

Schools in Velva

All Velva schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Velva’s kids attend outperform 65% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictVELVA 1Schools2

Velva Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 217 students Velva High School BHigh · Grades 7–12 · 222 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within ND. Ratings are from neighbors.